Hong Kong location country China. Why Hong Kong is not the capital, and other important facts about China's financial center

Hong Kong Often called the “Pearl of the Orient”, its name comes from the Xiangjiang River. The two Chinese characters “Xiang” and “Gan” together mean Hong Kong “fragrant harbor”.
Hong Kong was originally a small settlement in China. It was an important fishing port before the colonial period. Some historians say its name comes from the fragrant incense that was often wafted around the waterways.

Hong Kong consists of islands: Hong Kong, Lantau, Kowloon Peninsula, New Territories and a group of 260 islands. Hong Kong includes a total of 262 islands located in the South China Sea, the largest of which is Lantau. Hong Kong is the second largest, but the first in population.

Situated on the southeast Chinese coast, it is east of the mouth of the Pearl River and about 200 km from the city of Guangzhou, bordered by Macau across the sea to the west, and the snowboarding city of Shenzhen, to the north.

Hong Kong has a reputation as a highly urbanized area, but despite this, the Hong Kong government pays significant attention to ecology and landscaping. Most of Hong Kong's land still remains undeveloped, because... it is dominated by mountains and hills with steep slopes.

Thanks to its long, winding coastline, Hong Kong has a large number of bays, beaches and rivers. However, despite such an abundance of greenery and water, the ecology of the city is causing increasing concern.

It became a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy and has its own currency, laws and customs.

There are several beaches on the island, the most famous of which are Cheung Sha (good wind waves, you can surf), Silvermine Bay and the best - Repulse Bay.

Important point: Since 2007, Hong Kong has had a smoking ban in all in public places. The maximum fine for smoking in the wrong place is HKD 5,000.

Thanks to its advantageous geographical location, Hong Kong is one of the leading shopping centers East Asia, especially in the telecommunications, banking, shipping, insurance and technology industries. Hong Kong has become famous for its lifestyle and entertainment and is now gaining worldwide recognition in the film industry.

Hong Kong Climate

Hong Kong's climate is subtropical, with distinct seasons. Typhoon season usually lasts from May to September. In spring (from March to mid-May) average temperature air ranges from +18 °C to +27 °C. Despite the fact that at this time of year it is quite warm during the day, in the evenings a warm sweater or even a jacket will certainly come in handy. Due to the high humidity, fog and drizzle are common.

The climate is monsoonal and tropical. Winter is dry and cool, lasting from December to March. Spring and summer are hot, rainy, autumn is sunny, dry and warm.

Summer in Hong Kong (from late May to mid-September) is usually very hot and rainy, the air temperature can reach +31..+33°C. Autumn (late September - early December) is considered best time to visit the city, the air temperature is +18..+28°C, warm and sunny days are established. In winter (from mid-December to February) it can be relatively cold, temperatures can drop below +10 °C.

Monument to Bruce Lee in Hong Kong

A monument to Bruce Lee appeared in Hong Kong in November 2005. with funding from fans of the legendary talent. This is the world's first monument to Bruce Lee. The grand opening of the monument was timed to coincide with the date of birth of the star. The statue became a decoration and one of the main attractions of the Avenue of Stars, located on the Victoria Bay embankment.

The author of the project is the Chinese sculptor Cao Chong'en . The monument is made of bronze and rises two meters above the alley. At the monument you can constantly see people who come to honor the memory of the Hong Kong world-class star.

Hong Kong cuisine and restaurants

Hong Kong has rightfully gained fame as one of the culinary capitals of the world: here with You can equally well find restaurants serving Chinese, Thai, Italian, French, Japanese, Mediterranean, Indian, Scandinavian and even Russian cuisine.

IN China There are many languages, most of which use a common hieroglyphic script. That is, the meaning of words written in hieroglyphs is clear to speakers of different languages, but these words sound completely different.

One of the languages ​​of China is Yue, common in the southeastern province Guangdong. It is different from the official language of China - Mandarin and is known to Europeans under the name “Cantonese”; it is the one that is most often used in Hong Kong.

Name " Hong Kong" comes from reading the Yue spelling 「香港」 ( hyungkon). The name literally means “Fragrant Harbor” and was historically applied to one of the bays of Hong Kong Island and the villages in it. The British who captured the island named it Hong Kong, through the English the name passed into other languages, including Russian.

The same name read in official Chinese (Mandarin) sounds like Hong Kong, therefore, when designating Hong Kong as a Chinese region, it is often called Hong Kong.

The full name of Hong Kong is 香港特別行政區 - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in Cantonese " hyeonkon takpit hanjinkhoy", in Mandarin " Hong Kong Tebe Xingzhengqu».

Following the English spelling in two words ( Hong Kong), in Russian there are dictionary erroneous spellings: Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong or hyphenated Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong etc.

Useful information for tourists about Hong Kong, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Hong Kong, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in Hong Kong.

Geography of Hong Kong

Hong Kong (Hong Kong) is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. Hong Kong is located on the Kowloon Peninsula, bordered from the west, south and east by South China Sea, as well as on more than 260 islands. To the north, Hong Kong borders the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in the Chinese province of Guangdong.

Hong Kong is usually divided into three parts: Hong Kong Island itself, Kowloon and the New Territories.

State

State structure

On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong acquired the status of a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, but enjoys a high degree of autonomy and has retained its political, social and economic system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative - by parliament.

Language

Official language: Chinese

English is widely used.

Currency

International name: HKD

The Hong Kong dollar is equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 HK$ in four different designs, as well as coins in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 cents.

There are no currency restrictions in Hong Kong, any currency is freely traded and purchased, although when purchasing with Hong Kong dollars you can get a number of price advantages and discounts.

You can exchange currency at exchange offices in banks (usually the best rate), airports, large stores and most hotels. Credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted everywhere, and the ATM network is very extensive.

Popular attractions

Tourism in Hong Kong

Popular hotels

Tips

Visa

Office hours

Most banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 16.00-17.00 with a lunch break from 13.00 to 14.00 and on Saturdays from 9.00 to 12.30-13.00.

Most stores are open from 10.00 to 20.00, large trading houses often continue to work until 21.00-22.00. Many retail outlets are also open on weekends.

Safety

In Hong Kong, you must always carry identification (passport, driver license etc.) - Immigration authorities often conduct document checks to detain illegal workers and immigrants with expired visas.

Emergency numbers

Police, ambulance, fire and emergency services - 999.

Photo and video shooting

Photography in temples and museums is either prohibited or an additional fee is charged for it. The fees for using video cameras are much higher or filming is not allowed at all. Photographing strategic objects (airport, train station, dam, bridge, etc.) is prohibited.

Hong Kong from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Hong Kong.

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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China is located on the Kowloon Peninsula, bordered to the west, south and east by the South China Sea. Its current territory consists, in fact, of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and adjacent islands. The most popular among tourists are the nearby islands: Lantau, where the bronze Big Buddha and the AsiaWorld-Expo exhibition center are located; Lamma, famous for its fish restaurants and lack of cars, as well as Cheung Chau with its famous bun festival and the cave where the famous pirate Cheung Po Tsai kept his loot. And, of course, the famous resort of Macau.

An important point: since 2007, Hong Kong has banned smoking in all public places. You can now taste this forbidden fruit only in special reservations (marked with “smoking areas” signs), as well as in the open areas of restaurants. There is a very significant fine for smoking in the wrong place.

How to get to Hong Kong

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Search for flights to Hong Kong

Districts of Hong Kong

Hong Kong is divided into 4 parts: the main island, the Kowloon Peninsula, which got its name back in the colonial era, the New Territories and the so-called Separate Islands, including Lantau Island.

Hong Kong Island - financial, political and tourist centre. In addition to numerous skyscrapers and luxury shopping centers, there are prestigious beaches (for example, Repulse Bay) and the most expensive hotels. It is worth staying here for those who like to be, as they say, in the center of events. The main island is always full of crowds, noise and illumination.

Kowloon (or Kowloon) is the most populous part of Hong Kong. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of shopping centers and markets of various kinds on the peninsula. Prices in the local stores are significantly lower than in the center. The only “but”: the traders speak almost no English, so if you don’t speak Chinese, bargaining will be difficult.

In 1898, the British leased additional land from the Chinese government. This is how the New Territories region appeared. Locals and tourists come here to relax “away from civilization”, as far as possible in a large Asian metropolis. There are many mountain parks, villages, suburban recreation areas and relatively wild beaches in this part.

The list of Individual Islands includes more than 260 objects, the largest being Lantau Island with Hong Kong Disneyland. Lamma Island is famous for its seafood and seafood restaurants, while Cheung Chau Island has transformed from the official "home of pirates" into a home for surfers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Transport

The range of local public transport is impressive. In addition to the standard set: metro, buses, trams and taxis, Hong Kong has a couple of funiculars and a local “star” - a street escalator.

The most convenient, fastest and most expensive form of transport is the metro. It is also, perhaps, the most boring for a tourist. After all, you won’t see anything here except neat platforms and clean carriages. The Hong Kong subway has 10 lines. The fare is 4-26 HKD. Prices on the page are as of March 2019.

Trams and buses in Hong Kong are double-decker. Bus travel costs on average 3-20 HKD. The Hong Kong tram (here affectionately known as the “ding”) is more than 100 years old, and all this time it has retained its status as the most accessible urban transport. Ticket price is about 2.60 HKD.

There are 2 funiculars in Hong Kong: an old rail car takes people to Victoria Peak, a modern cable car takes people to the Buddha statue. A trip on the rail will cost 32 HKD one way or 52 HKD both ways. You can ride the cable car for 145 HKD.

The 800-meter Mid-Levels escalator is listed in the Guinness Book as the longest on the planet.

The Hong Kong street escalator runs from Des Voeux Road Central to Conduit Road. It takes passengers almost to the middle of Victoria Peak completely free of charge. You can go down by minibuses No. 3 and 3A or on foot.

City taxis in Hong Kong are red, in Lantau they are blue. Information on the cost of services can be found in the car interior, and the exact amount is shown on the meter. Transfer from the airport to the hotel will cost approximately 300-400 HKD. The cost of a short trip around the city is 40-70 HKD. Always ask the driver for a receipt. The law requires passengers to wear seat belts.

Cycling enthusiasts can rent a bicycle in Hong Kong. Along with it, they usually give out a map of the area and a list of attractions. The most popular walking destination: Sha Tin area - Tai Po Waterfront Park. The 11 km long bike path runs along the Shing Mun River. You can rent a bike at the Tai Wai MRT station, on the bike path itself, or at the Tai Po Waterfront Park. A daily rental will cost 70-80 HKD if you return the vehicle to where you picked it up in the evening, or from 100 HKD if you leave it at your destination.

Ferry service between the islands is also popular. The Star Ferry is a fun way to get around Victoria Harbor. The largest pier is located in the Central District of Hong Kong. From there, ferries depart every 20-30 minutes to Lantau and Lamma Island. A 4-day pass costs about 27.5 HKD, a single trip starts from 2 HKD.

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Maps of Hong Kong

Rent a Car

A solo drive around Hong Kong is not for the faint of heart. There is left-hand traffic, which is unusual for us, and congested roads, and complex interweaving of streets. In addition, it is very difficult to find a parking space in the city. The best decision would be to hire a driver. An hour of hiring will cost 300-600 HKD, the minimum period is 4 hours.

There are several international rental agencies operating in Hong Kong: SIXT, Avis, GoldCar. Parking in the city center costs about 60 HKD, in remote areas - 8-10 HKD per hour.

Communications and Wi-Fi

You can purchase a SIM card from one of the many local operators at 7-eleven, One2Free and other stores. No documents are required for purchase. The card is activated instantly and costs around 100 HKD. Part of this amount goes to your account.

If you are not going to make a lot of calls, it is better to buy a Calling Card. The “call card” is activated in a couple of minutes (instructions in English are on the back of the card), you can use it to call any country in the world.

In almost all hotels, Internet access is paid and quite expensive. In some parks, central squares and avenues there are free Wi-Fi zones “from the government”. The most convenient option is to buy a guest SIM card from the PCCW operator. An 8-day card costs only 118 HKD and guarantees access to the network even from the most remote corners Hong Kong.

See Hong Kong Pass

In 2011, the iVenture Card system launched in Hong Kong. With this tourist map city ​​guests can visit 15 attractions for free or with a significant discount, ride on cable car And excursion bus. Additionally, the iVenture Card program can include a trip to Macau. A 5-day pass costs HKD 160.62 for adults and HKD 103.02 for children 3-11 years old. You can purchase a card online on the official website.

Beaches of Hong Kong

Despite the fact that Hong Kong has never been included in the list of “capitals beach holiday“There are no problems with the beaches here. There are about 40 free and public ones, and more than fifty closed ones. All of them are equipped with protection against sea ​​predators, sun loungers and umbrellas.

Main Island

There are 12 beaches on the central island, most of them in the southeastern part. Repulse Bay beach is one of the most prestigious. Here you can sail on a boat or raft, learn how to sail a sailboat, scuba dive, dine on freshly caught mussels in an expensive restaurant, or just lie on the fine, clean sand.

The bay in the Repulse Bay area is quite narrow and only allows small ships to pass through. Dozens of small islands protect the harbor from waves and wind, so swimming in the resort area is absolutely safe for children.

Turtle Cove is called the most clean beach Hong Kong - the sea water here is almost transparent, the sand is fine. The bottom is flat, there are almost no waves, so the beach is ideal for families with children. In addition to showers, changing cabins and a cafe, there are barbecue areas and a play area for children.

Guides in Hong Kong

Entertainment and attractions

No trip to Hong Kong is complete without a trip to the world's largest seated bronze Buddha. This is usually followed by Otpor Bay - a crescent-shaped strip of coastline - one of the most beautiful beaches Hong Kong. There are statues of Kwun Yam and Tin Hau, as well as a lifeguard club built in traditional Chinese style.

In addition, every visitor to Hong Kong should definitely visit Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row (“Street of Cats”). They are filled with antique shops, there is also a market for trinkets - perfect place to search for unusual souvenirs and gifts. The nearby Man Mo Temple is a picturesque building dedicated to the god of literature Manu and the god of war Mo, with huge spirals of incense hanging directly above their heads. Another interesting place- Aberdeen harbor, which has become home to thousands of people living right in fishing junks.

Modern entertainment in Hong Kong: Disneyland, aquarium, laser show “Symphony of Lights”. Described by Guinness World Records as "the largest permanent light and sound show in the world", this spectacular show spans over 40 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour. Best view opens from Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, Golden Bauhinia Square or from pleasure boats in the bay. The show starts every evening at 20:00.

For lovers of fun nightlife It's worth spending time in one of the clubs in Lan Kwai Fong (Central). After midnight, you can have a good time in the numerous bars and pubs of Wanchai, Knutsford Terrace (Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowlun Peninsula) and Soho (Central).

Due to its favorable geographical location, Hong Kong is a link between the booming developing economies China and others Asian countries and the rest of the world. It is therefore not surprising that thousands of businessmen, both wholesalers and small traders, come here every year in search of Chinese goods and manufacturers. Every year, Hong Kong hosts more than 100 significant specialized exhibitions, which attract about 800 thousand visitors from all over the world. Hong Kong salons, among other things, also serve as a “conductor” of the latest technologies to the markets of the countries of the Pacific region.

The Hong Kong economy is characterized by low taxes and a simple taxation system, free flow of capital and trade turnover, competent laws for the protection of intellectual property rights, and the absence of duties on the import of exhibition exhibits. Add to this highly skilled exhibition professionals, two state-of-the-art exhibition centres, the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center (HKCEC) and the new AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), and it is clear why many of Hong Kong's exhibitions have long been among the most significant in the world.

10 things to do in Hong Kong

1. Ride the longest escalator in the world and the cute Ding tram.
2. Take a walk along the Kowloon promenade in the evening and watch a laser show.
3. Climb Victoria Peak by cable car and descend on foot.
4. Get lost in Disneyland.
5. Climb to the top floor of one of the many skyscrapers.
6. Walk on the Moon at the Space Museum.
7. Buy a “pancake” of the real authentic pu-erh.
8. Wander around Hong Kong at night and fall in love with it forever.
9. Say hello to Buddha.
10. Dine at Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world.

Hong Kong for children

Main children's entertainment in Hong Kong - a huge Disneyland. A walk through the grand amusement park will take at least a whole day. For those who are planning a deep immersion into the world of Disney, there is a hotel on the territory of the park. Families with children spend weekends here and even in three days they do not have time to visit all the play areas and appreciate all the attractions. Every day at Disneyland begins with a parade of cartoon characters and ends with fireworks. It’s better to come to the park when it opens - at 9:30, then you have a chance to spend at least a couple of hours without queuing.

Second most popular place family vacation- Ocean Park. Sharks and rays, pandas and fiery foxes, penguins and fur seals live here. After visiting the aquarium, zoo and penguinarium in the park, you can take a cable car ride and get a bird's eye view of the islands.

Every day at Disneyland begins with a parade of cartoon characters and ends with fireworks.

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november

December

Hong Kong's climate is subtropical, with distinct seasons. Typhoon season usually lasts from May to September. Despite the fact that during this period it is quite warm during the day, in the evenings a warm sweater or even a jacket will certainly come in handy. Due to the high humidity, fog and drizzle are common. Summer in Hong Kong (late May to mid-September) is usually very hot and rainy. Autumn (late September - early December) is considered the best time to visit the city, with warm and sunny days. In winter (from mid-December to February) it can be relatively cold, temperatures can drop below +10 °C.

– Here it is the future, look, there behind the veil! - Hello everyone, friends, “Heads and Tails. Megacities” is with you. - And we are in the metropolis of megacities - Hong Kong. Infrastructure, technology, highways, skyscrapers, everything is heading upward. Only Olya is closely pressed to the ground by everyday desires for wealth. – You know what, Anton. Let's do this, in Hong Kong I will have tops, like in a fairy tale. And you have roots. - Eagle! - Tails! - Olya, give me the tops. Good luck with the roots. “They might come in handy too, well, probably, ah.” Hong Kong is a metropolis that seems designed to surprise. Did you know that Hong Kong means “fragrant haven”? Why are there more skyscrapers here than in New York? And that Hong Kong has the longest escalator in the world and that it is against the law to spit here? And did you know that skyscrapers in Hong Kong are built with holes to make it easier for dragons to fly? Did not know? Then don't switch for the next 48 minutes. The most famous space explorers: Belka, Strelka, Yura and her. Tesla! Anton. Welcome to the car of the future! Left side traffic. There are two most popular ways to get from the airport to the city. The first is double-decker. The drive is almost an hour. And the second is express. The drive is only 24 minutes. Yes, the express train is 8 and a half dollars more expensive than the bus. BUT he has a lot of bonuses! There are fewer people. Purely. It rushes without stopping. Saves 40 minutes and can take you to the very center of the city. And if you need to go to Hong Kong Island, then the express will take you there too. Tesla Model Es is one big electronic gadget. Instead of all the buttons there is one tablet. You move your finger over it and control the entire machine. Tesla's main super ability is that it can drive without a driver. Tesla can read markings, road signs and traffic lights! We heard that there was a recent case when a driver fell asleep at the wheel, and Tesla was fleeing a police chase at a speed of 112 kilometers per hour! And Tesla is an excellent conversationalist and assistant. She will tell you what the weather is like, the dollar exchange rate, find any address and phone number - even the creator of Tesla himself! What is this! In general, with such bells and whistles, there’s no better car to show off! There's Tesla. And there's Tesla. Tesla again. Look, Teslas are everywhere. And there’s Tesla... Cool, I decided to stand out by taking Tesla. And then what? Tesla too? It's TESLA on the streets of Hong Kong. Tesla runs on electricity, so it produces no emissions. For this, the Hong Kong authorities canceled the tax on the purchase of Tesla, which almost doubled the cost of the car. In other words, the markup was removed by 100 percent! So everyone raked in these Teslas until the shop closed. Hong Kong is the most vertical metropolis in the world. The sky of Hong Kong is held up by 7,685 giants made of concrete and glass! I have never experienced any kind of ardent love for the concrete jungle, but here you look and you are shocked by everything you see. There are more skyscrapers here than in any other metropolis in the world. I'm shocked - these are fifty-story residential buildings. I live on 7 and I’m happy, like it’s high, the view is good, but here it’s fifty stories high. 8 million people live in Hong Kong. But there is catastrophically little space for them to live. The only option to resettle everyone is to build tall candles. The most lives here a large number of people above the 14th floor. And real estate prices here are terribly high. Are you ready to hear this number? 1 square meter of living space in Hong Kong costs 30 thousand dollars!!! It's like a one-room apartment in Kyiv. Due to the lack of land, apartments here are an incredible luxury! For 800 thousand US dollars you can buy a little room like this with a window. Your feet will be in the neighbor's corridor. And a private house with a plot is generally some kind of unattainable space. The most expensive house is also located in Hong Kong on Victoria Peak. It has four rooms and a swimming pool and costs only 446 million US dollars. [roar] Hey, our producer fell! I wonder who is buying all this? Hong Kong is home to sixty-four billionaires. Nobody even counts how many millionaires there are here. The salary of janitors in Hong Kong is $1,100. Cashier - $1800 per month. These people have already accepted that they will never be able to buy their own home. Now in Hong Kong they are building micro-houses from concrete pipes with a diameter of two and a half meters. There will be a micro shower and a micro bedroom. You can buy such micro-housing for 15 thousand dollars. In general, Hong Kong is a unique metropolis. It's not even a city. The correct name is the special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. This is such a laconic name. Hong Kong and mainland China are, although one country, two completely different systems. It has its own currency, banking system, laws and rules. The language and cuisine are also different from mainland China. Even in appearance, Hong Kong people do not look like ordinary Chinese. They are taller, their skin is lighter and their eye shape is different. And what kind of girls are there? How else is Hong Kong different from China? I'm telling you. Driving here is on the left. Facebook, YouTube and other American social networks are allowed here. Everyone here speaks English. And there is no death penalty here. And imagine, Chinese from the mainland cannot simply enter Hong Kong. They need to get a visa! Oh look, this is the famous Hong Kong double-decker tram. Such trams exist only in Hong Kong and two other cities. Oleg, let's go for a ride, let's go for a ride, shall we? My! Man, I was actually the first to stand. Clear in front! This is the best the best place for travel on this tram. There is an anthill below, people are running, jumping, rushing around. And you're just watching it so condescendingly. How beautiful it is! Double-decker trams have been crisscrossing Hong Kong for a hundred and ten years! It is also interesting that the stops are designed at such a height that in the event of an emergency, passengers on the second floor will be able to evacuate without breaking their legs. Listen, this is an amazing form of transport, here the mood rises in a matter of seconds. This is just wonderful, a visual tour for little money, I’m delighted! In Hong Kong, wealthy tourists stay in skyscraper hotels. I will be staying at the legendary Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Just a second. Many people call me an ill-mannered bastard. Not at all, slander. Let me invite you to a joint fashion show in the best city hotel in the world, according to the authoritative Forbes magazine “Mandarin Oriental”. Only after you. Did you see how gallant I was? The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, by the way, the very first hotel of the global luxury chain, has everything a rich man needs. Elite shopping. Traditional Chinese Medicine Spa. There is a barbershop where a millionaire’s beard will be trimmed in style, and a millionaire’s hair will be styled. And then they will go to relax in one of the hotel's 10 bars and restaurants. But first the rich man checks into a room! - Now I will show you your suite. - Senkyu. Mr. Denny Lai is the hotel's most experienced employee. He has been here almost from the very beginning and welcomes only VIP guests. - How many years have you been working here? - It's 1947. - Wow, that’s half a century! - You must have seen a bunch of VIP guests! - Oh yes, I accompanied the members royal families, the first politicians and world stars to their numbers. Mr. Lai escorted me to the room, which costs 110 thousand hryvnia per night. - Welcome! - Wow. And it's fun here! - If you need anything, let me know and I will instantly fulfill your wish! - Thank you! This room is stylized as the London photo studio of the famous British photographer Lord Patrick Lichfeld. There are pictures of him everywhere. Lord Lichfeld was the most sought-after photographer of the last century. He was the only one Princess Diana entrusted to photograph her wedding. Collectors still buy even unsuccessful photographs for $12,000 apiece. Among all these stars, only one black and white photo is missing. And here is some kind of photo studio. Well, who am I to argue with my upbringing. I was told not to go, I won’t go. Everyone thinks that Hong Kong is one big metropolis. But this is not so - it is divided into several parts. Mainland - everything here is old and traditional. Ostrovnaya - new ones here high skyscrapers and mountains. And there are many smaller islands with small villages. We've already admired the skyscrapers, let's go look at old Hong Kong. There are no glass high-rises in the Mong Kok area and billion-dollar transactions are not made here. Here they dry clothes on old balconies... Here the Chinese characters dazzle your eyes... Here they pray to the Buddhist gods... Here they cook dumplings in a bamboo steamer and go to the goldfish markets. The Chinese believe that fish bring money and prosperity because the word “fish” in Chinese sounds like “prosperity.” Look at the fish, what it is!! The Chinese give each other goldfish for any occasion, but the main reason is housewarming. They buy this plastic bag with water and a fish inside. And they go to visit. The tradition is beautiful, but the implementation is not the most humane. For normal existence, a small fish needs 30 liters of water. How many do you think there are here? The fish don't have enough oxygen. They forget to feed them and they just die. The smell of decaying animals, fish, frogs. Look, an aquarium fish is swimming in a puddle. She needs to be saved somehow. How to save her? Do you have any container? Maybe a can? Can I buy a glass from you? What is the price? - Take it for free. - Thanks a lot! I'll save the fish! Fish! Fish in water! See, this is what could have happened to you. I need to give you a name. I'll call you puddle. Little fish, don’t be afraid, we will find a way to help you. Either I will find you a home or new friends. - Do you have an aquarium at home? - Yes, I don’t even have a home here. - And you? - Also no. Who wants a goldfish? I'm giving it away for free! I pulled the fish out of the puddle and am looking for a home for it. Please take her! Will you pick it up? Hooray! I'm happy! Come on, we'll take it, we have a big aquarium at home. Thank you! You are best! Oleg, I lost the fish! To eat at one of the best restaurants Hong Kong "Meng Wah" - I just need to ride the elevator. This hotel has not one, not two, but three Michelin-starred restaurants. I chose Cantonese cuisine for lunch. Looks like origami. -Can you surprise me? - Certainly. Chinese cuisine consists of 8 regional cuisines. Cantonese is a cuisine of southern China. It is famous for its delicious seafood. - And here’s a surprise for you from the chef - pickled jellyfish! - What can people eat jellyfish? - Of course, we eat everything that floats in the water, well, except submarines ! – I admit, I already have negative experience of eating marine fauna, namely stingray with a tarnished reputation. It was like eating a public toilet. Therefore, I am a little compromised and extremely confused. But I'll try. It smells like spices. Spices with onions and sesame seeds, which interrupts the main smell of meat. I'm going to try now. Where's the meat? There are veins here. Apparently, in order to give the jellyfish some kind of taste, it is simply soaked in spices and on top of the onions, so I don’t feel the taste of this creature at all. Pain in the eyes, in the heart, in the stomach. Jellyfish is a local delicacy. There is no fat in the slippery sea reptile, so Hong Kong people make salads, noodles from jellyfish, and ice cream is made from jellyfish protein. The consistency and feel are very similar to chicken cartilage and, in principle, if you put red pepper and onions in there, it will be the same. You don't have to buy jellyfish. Otherwise, I know you, now run to the nearest supermarket. For a budget tourist, food in Hong Kong is no less strange. What do you think this is? Oranges in mulled wine? You guessed wrong! These are eggs boiled in Pu-Er tea! Do you think this is fried cheese? Wrong guess again! These are radish pies. Does this look like shrimp in batter to you? And again no! These are chicken feet in sweet and sour sauce. Do you think this is miso soup? No! This is the famous Chinese dish “Gui-guodong.” The Chinese consider this dish a “beauty potion” - it reduces inflammation on the skin and makes it soft like a baby. Gui Guodong is served at traditional eateries in the Mong Kok area. Not for everyone. - What is this jelly made of? - This jelly is made from turtle, look! - From a TURTLE???? - Well, yes! Turtle is very good for the skin! I'm like Anton! Don't worry, this jelly is not made from turtle meat, but from the broth in which its shell was cooked! I'm eating turtle! It is recommended to eat turtle jelly with honey to neutralize the bitterness. It’s better with honey, but now with every spoonful I look at that picture. Phew, my blood pressure has gone up. First, the turtle shell is boiled for many hours. Then all kinds of herbs and medicines are added there. This jelly tastes like a bittersweet cough syrup with eucalyptus and licorice root. It’s just as if another liter of linden honey had been poured into it. No, I’m about to puke and I won’t touch a spoon. In Hong Kong, you can travel through time and space without any quantum leaps. You get out of the electric car... you find yourself next to your grandmother, who is performing a very strange ritual. [speaking Chinese] I absolutely agree with you. It is impossible to live on a pension alone. Between the Wanchai and Causeway Bay areas, grandmothers sit under an overpass and do something strange. They hit the brick with a slipper. These grandmothers are witches. They are called here “cursers” of villains. This grandma will protect you from haters. It is enough to write the name of the villain on a piece of paper and she will beat the crap out of him with a slipper. I’m rich, now I’ll go through the entire list. Give me more papers. So, how does witchcraft work? They give you special villainous pieces of paper and you write the names of people or some phenomena that bother you. So that’s the first thing I’m dissatisfied with. Second. I’m also annoyed by haters, the dollar exchange rate, pension reform, roads, football and Olin the stylist. Well, I walked around the top. I agree, I want to drown it more, but it will come up. The ritual begins. Grandmother reads a conspiracy over the sacred fire... And then the grandmother gives the offenders a spanking with a magic slipper! Oh, how much strength do you have? You say my eyes are always red? Don't you like my hat? Did you eat a turtle? Can’t put two words together? All! So. Naturally. We logically put this into the tiger. The Chinese consider the Bai-Hu tiger to be a sacred fighter against evil spirits. The tiger needs to be appeased with a piece of fresh pork. And then both the tiger and the offenders are burned. In addition to the fact that they hit your haters with a slipper, they also apparently remove all the negative energy from you with such a ritual. All in a furnace of resentment! Sorry, I forgot about the main part of the ritual. Exchange of money. The spirits say it's not enough. It all looks, of course, stupid and childish, but if it works, it’s the best investment of 12 dollars in my life. 365 days a year at 8 pm Hong Kong shows tourists a show - “Symphony of Lights”. Everyone says that the best place to watch the show is from Tsim Sha Tsui Bund. But by 8 o’clock there are tons of people there! That's why I'm renting out a secret place to you - the roof. shopping center Harbor City! What makes me most happy is that I now have, one might say, a VIP viewing platform, but I didn’t pay anything for this. [music] The show lasts 15 minutes. It involves 47 skyscrapers, lasers, LED screens, spotlights, and everything that can shine! You know, I look at all this flickering and flashing future, and I understand that Hong Kong is absolutely like my unusual cocktail. Everything was mixed up in him. And technology, and traditions, and the past, and the future. Hong Kong has been showing this kind of performance for 15 years. During this time, much more spectacular competitors appeared in the world. In order not to lose face, the Hong Kong authorities every year buy new equipment worth millions of dollars and illuminate new buildings. But still, somehow it doesn’t catch on. You know, this is certainly interesting, but it seems to me that a light show is a very loud name. I would never go for money, but for a free show it will do! Let's go online and see how much housing costs in Hong Kong? Hotels – start from $80! Hostels - from $18, but these are beds in a 6-bed room in an old house. But the incredible happened - free housing appeared in Hong Kong. True, it is located on another island and this is a campsite. But anyone who has been to Hong Kong will understand that this is a real sensation and we are obliged to tell you about it. Hong Kong includes 263 islands. There are islands where only foreigners live, and on the contrary, there are only Hong Kongers. There are even islands where refugees from Africa live. And my campsite is located on Lantau Island - the largest island in Hong Kong. And here it is - my first camping in my life - “Pui O”! - Where do they give out tents here? - We have our own. - Hello, where did you get your tent? - You brought your own! It turned out that at the campsite they only give you free a place for a tent, a place for a barbecue and a toilet. All with tents, and I took a sleeping bag, but I don’t have a tent. - I have a strange question for you - do you have a second tent? - No, we have one. - Thank you, sorry . Oooh, it's rubbish. - Can I spend the night with you in your tent? I'm young!, I won't cause you any trouble! - No, no, I'm here with my family. - Can I spend the night with one of you? I I don’t snore. - Are you alone? - Yeah, alone. - I’ll give you my tent and spend the night with my brother. - Seriously? - Yes. - Can I spend the night in it? God, thank you! I have such joy inside me. I didn’t expect that someone would respond and I already thought that I would just sleep in the sleeping bag. Hood. Good night. I have slept in a tent, but never on the seashore in Hong Kong among strangers. And I'm not even scared. How incomparable this is. This is something you can watch and watch, I think I fell in love. Well, where did you go, where did you go? It's dark there! Hong Kong is also beautiful. Good night. This is what I understand, good morning! Warm! This is what it is beautiful place and the morning that I would spend two days here. But I have to go to Hong Kong. 3 445 901, 3 445 902, 3 445 903 ... Ocean Park is one of the most visited attractions in the world. From 5 to 7 million people per year. So, wait, I didn't count you. Ocean Park combines an amusement park and a zoo. In one part of the park there are swings and carousels for any vestibular system. Very... good... attraction.. It even has the world's first virtual reality attraction, where you fly through the jungle and lava bombs fall on you. There is also a slide for the fearless - “Book of Horrors”! Life has become simpler, I have become a little lighter. When you get angry on the rides, you need to go to the animal part of the park to calm down. There is an aquarium where you can see funny walruses! There is an ice pavilion where you can see king and chinstrap penguins. I told you that the park is very huge. Boy! Which way is Hong Kong? But the biggest stir is caused by pandas! Well, here she is! Here! Panda! Panda! Look at the circles under her eyes, as if she is also the host of Tails. Panda... No, not like that. (affectionately) Paaanndaaa is the cutest animal in the world... No, these are not candies or kozinaki. It's just that pandas are so cute that even their waste products are not disgusting. A short audio phrasebook for communicating with a panda. If you want to make friends with a panda, say... [panda sound] If you want to play with a panda, say... [panda sound 2] If you want to attack a panda, in China it's a life sentence, actually. Oh, these are red pandas, look! Yes, yes, there are not only big black and white pandas in the world. But these are also little red pandas. There are only 2 and a half thousand of them left in the world. If the big panda looks more like a bear, then the small panda looks like a raccoon with a long tail. Do you know what 2 things unite small pandas and giant pandas? Both have a 6th finger. Both of them eat bamboo. That's it... We are actually an educational travel show. Panda cannot be bought. Panda can only be rented for 10 years. The rental price is $1 million per year. All zoos in the world rent pandas from China. And if a panda cub is born there, it also belongs to China. What, we are all more knowledgeable and knowledgeable? On Sunday morning in Hong Kong, I noticed something strange. Hundreds of women are sitting on the ground outside. Some sleep wrapped in rags, others sit on oilcloths like homeless people. At first glance, it may seem like a huge pile of refugees, but if you look closely, you can see good clothes, a good phone, and delicious food. In fact, these are just governesses, because according to the law in Hong Kong, children under 11 years old cannot be alone at home. And they hire governesses. From the Philippines, from Malaysia, from Bangladesh. Governesses live with families 6 days a week. They take care of the house and children. And on Sunday the governesses have a day off while the family spends time together. Women correspond on the Internet and agree where they will meet. This Sunday, Indonesian women had a picnic on a bridge in the Mong Kok area. Malaysians gathered on the pier and held a Zumba master class! And Filipinas occupied one of the central streets on Hong Kong Island and staged a parade in honor of the Philippines! With traditional music... Dancing.. The men dressed up in traditional “Bahag” costumes, which cover only the intimate parts of the body. Imagine how many Filipinos there are here, that there is a Philippine festival here in Hong Kong. There are 150 thousand Filipinas working in Hong Kong! - Why do you choose Hong Kong? - The salary of a governess in Hong Kong is 3 times more than the salary of a teacher in the Philippines - $550 per month. And the closest flight here is from the Philippines - only two hours. - There is a stereotype that governesses from the Philippines take their husbands away from their families. This is true? - Who told you that?! No. We take care of their children and earn money to feed our children. I have a husband and twins. I need to help them, and not take other people’s husbands away. While Hong Kongers build their careers, I work 20 hours a day - cooking, cleaning, shopping and raising their children. Filipinas have been working in Hong Kong families for decades and do not see their husbands, how their children grow up, how they go to university and how they have children of their own. Therefore, every Sunday for Filipinos is a holiday when you can feel like you belong among your own. Treasure hunters. In order to find a bottle in Hong Kong you will need to come down to earth. But believe me, it's worth it. Find the coordinates: Ocean Park, Marriott Hotel, road, bump stop. A bottle with 100 dollars is hidden behind a metal box. Good luck! Hong Kong was founded by Europeans and is inhabited by Asians. Therefore, they are like Yin and Yang, combining opposites. There is a concrete jungle here. And the jungle is natural! There are ultra-modern gadgets here.. - There is Tesla on the streets of Hong Kong. They run alongside road veterans. Here in skyscrapers, bankers conduct deals worth billions. And here, under the bridge, grandmothers tell fortunes using slippers. - How much strength do you have? This is probably what a real megacity should be like. - I got rid of the fish! - I'm young! - I became a little lighter. - Where is the meat? - Hurray! - Are we becoming more and more knowledgeable? Guy, which way is Hong Kong? [sing songs in Chinese] - Never sing, okay? - How good! It's so quiet and beautiful here. - Don't thank me. But during these two days, for the first time I met the most charming and beautiful creature in this world. Olya, I saw a panda! - Ah...Yes... Pandas are very cute. Such good ones. Yes.. And I saved the fish. She was swimming in a puddle, I was walking, saw her and saved her. How beautiful Hong Kong is after all. From the first second it amazes you with its mood to the depths of your soul and you understand that you have fallen in love and will never stop loving this city. What kind of people are here, what kind of landscapes are here. [singing in Chinese] Friends, we will meet you in the next metropolis. Bye! [singing in Chinese]